On November 5, 2007, the national union met with Canada Post to discuss future changes to the mail processing network.

Canada Post has provided the early notice required in the urban operations collective agreement about their plans for new state of the art facilities and new sorting equipment.

Canada Post has decided to relocate the Winnipeg and Vancouver Mail Processing Plants and to modernize the Toronto Gateway plant. Canada Post assured the union that there are no plans to close any plants at this time.

New generation mechanized sorting equipment, new work processes and increased motorization were among the many issues discussed between the parties.  Mail sequencing equipment and machines to collate admail are being considered.

Share the benefits of increased productivity

The union advised Canada Post that we will not oppose the modernization.  After all, our members deserve to work in safe, healthy plants and the public deserves efficient service.

As in the past, our position is that workers and the communities should share in the benefits of increased productivity.

However, we put Canada Post on notice that we will fight hard against the anticipated future job loss due to increased productivity. We told Canada Post to mitigate the job loss by contracting in work, expanding service and creating more parcel hubs. We told them to maximize day shift positions.

We told Canada Post not to even consider contracting out the maintenance of the new generation equipment. We stated that our technical services members must do that work as well as the facility maintenance in the new plants and vehicle maintenance on expanded motorization.

We also told them that we want all health and safety related studies on all equipment being considered, the health and safety impact of sequencing for letter carriers and ergonomic assessments prior to the purchase of new machinery and equipment.

What’s next?

The National Executive Board has established a subcommittee to deal with the national consultation. That committee is made up of the national president, the 4^th national vice president and the national directors of the Metro Toronto, Prairie and Pacific regions.  The national union representative for consultation will work with the committee as well as other national directors, union representatives and staff as required.

We will establish consultative committees at all levels of the union and working groups to address specific issues.

CUPW is not unhappy that Canada Post has decided to modernize the post office – we would rather see investments in plants rather than closures.

We will be looking to achieve the union’s goals and mitigate all adverse effects every step of the way.

Watch for further bulletins and information.